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Real Madrid have reportedly made contact over the transfer of Inter Milan striker and rumoured Arsenal target Mauro Icardi as the reigning UEFA and La Liga champions look for a replacement for Karim Benzema.

The La Liga giants could certainly do with strengthening in attack in the near future as the likes of Benzema and Cristiano Ronaldo now misfiring.

Icardi, meanwhile, the striker has shone this season with an impressive record of 18 goals in 21 Serie A games so far, establishing himself as one of the most lethal centre-forwards in Europe.

Icardi could fit in well at Madrid, and Don Balon claim the Los Blancos have opened talks of discussing a deal to bring him to the club, with Real confident of the move as he wants to join.

Real's move for Icardi could be bad news for Arsenal, who are also in need of a new signing up front at the moment after the club lose Alexis Sanchez to Manchester United.

Gianluca Di Marzio recently listed Arsenal as among top sides interested in Icardi and reported that the Argentina international had a release clause of £96million, though most report at the moment suggests that Arsenal are working to bring Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang from Borussia Dortmund.

The Daily Mail suggest things could be progressing on that front, so it may be that Arsenal will end up with Aubameyang, freeing up Real to move for Icardi relatively unchallenged.